Chapter 3 Move in, Sunshine

Lia stood in front of the shelf, still holding the book between her fingers.

She looked at the faded spine, then smiled softly.

"I'm going to go for this one," she said, hugging it gently to her chest.

Mateo, already back at his desk, barely looked up. But he nodded once.

"Good choice."

She lingered for a second, then cleared her throat.

"I should check on Romeo."

Mateo didn't respond.

She turned and quietly left the study, the book still in her hand.

Romeo was awake by the time she reached his room. He sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes with small, sleepy hands.

"Hey, buddy," Lia said gently, sitting beside him.

"Hi," he mumbled, voice still thick with sleep.

She brushed his curls from his forehead.

"Are you hungry?"

He nodded without a word.

She helped him get dressed again and took his hand as they walked down to the kitchen. The maids were already at work and quickly brought him Mac and cheese,his favourite and a little bowl of fruit.

Romeo ate slowly while Lia sat beside him, humming quietly, encouraging him between each bite.

Later, they spent some time in the garden.

It was sunny and warm, the kind of afternoon that felt like a small gift.

Romeo chased butterflies across the soft grass while Lia laughed, breathless, watching him run. They picked oranges together from the trees that lined the far side of the garden, and Romeo insisted on putting one in her tote bag "for later."

She let him.

After work, Lia left the estate and took a cab to the hospital.

She walked through the now-familiar hallway, her heart tightening with every step. The scent of antiseptic and low whispers hung in the air.

She pushed open the door to Room 208.

Her mother was awake.

"Lia," she said, her voice raspy but filled with warmth.

"Mom," Lia whispered, eyes already stinging.

She moved to the chair by the bed.

"How are you feeling?" she asked softly.

Her mother gave her a tired smile.

"I'll be fine, my dear."

But Lia could see the pain behind the words.

She could see the way her mother's hands trembled when she reached for the glass of water. Could see the quiet shame in her eyes.

Lia's mom hated this.

She hated that her daughter had quit college to pay medical bills. That no one in the family had answered their calls, that everyone either claimed they had no money or simply... ignored them.

Now her daughter worked three part-time jobs just to keep her alive.

Lia's dream of becoming a doctor... a dream she'd held since she was nine... now felt like a wish whispered into the wind.

"I brought food," Lia said, trying to sound cheerful as she reached into her tote bag. She pulled out the package bag,she had bought food on her way here

"Is it sushi?" her mom asked, already shifting upright in bed.

Lia laughed softly.

"Mom, why do you like sushi so much?"

Her mother smiled, her eyes already gleaming with quiet joy.

"Because it reminds me of better days."

Lia looked down, her smile fading slightly.

Lia unpacked the food and set it then they began to eat

Her mother looked up and asked with a teasing smile,

"So... how's the new job?" she said, stuffing another piece of sushi into her mouth.

Lia smiled, chewing slowly.

"Cool. My boss is nice...at least, I think he is..and his son is adorable. Really sweet kid. Doesn't stress me at all."

Her mother raised a brow.

"Better than your old job?"

Lia gave her a look.

"I won't even try comparing. My old boss was the worst."

Her mom laughed. A real laugh, though weak.

"Do you remember how he made you stay past closing because you came in ten minutes late?"

Lia chuckled, shaking her head.

"Ugh. And then had the nerve to ask me to buy him coffee after."

Her mother laughed again, then slowly her smile softened into something else. Her eyes lingered on Lia with a quiet kind of love. A knowing kind of ache.

She reached out and gently placed her hand over her daughter's.

"Everything will be fine, my love," she whispered. "I know it doesn't feel like it now... but it will."

Lia didn't say anything right away.

She just nodded slowly, blinking back the weight behind her eyes.

"I hope so."

Later that night after her mother drifted off to sleep, Lia stayed a while longer, just sitting by her bedside, watching the gentle rise and fall of her chest.

It was late.

It had been a long day.

And it would continue tomorrow.

She left the hospital quietly, walked back to her apartment under a sky that was already soft with stars, and tried really tried to sleep.

But she couldn't.

Not with the number stuck in her head.

$25,000.

That was what stood between her mother and a second chance.

Lia stared at the ceiling for hours, her heart racing, her thoughts running in circles. She had no idea where she was going to find that kind of money. She'd already stretched herself thin. Two jobs. Student loans. Rent.

What else could she sell?

What else could she give up?

By the time the sky turned pale again, she hadn't slept a second.

---

She arrived at the Rodriguez estate looking... drained.

Her hair wasn't as neatly tucked. Her hoodie looked more tired than usual. The shadows beneath her eyes were impossible to hide.

"Lia," Mama Lulu called from the foyer, concern etched into her face.

"Hello, Mama Lulu," Lia said with a small smile, trying to look normal.

Mama Lulu narrowed her eyes, stepping closer.

"Oh my God. Did you sleep at all? Those bags under your eyes child, they're criminal."

Lia let out a quiet laugh and tried to brush it off, but her smile barely held.

She headed upstairs to Romeo's room and found the little boy already awake, curled up on the edge of his bed, holding Peanut in his hands.

"Hey, buddy," she whispered gently.

He looked up and smiled sleepily.

She helped him get ready, brushed his hair gently, tied his shoes, and carried him downstairs to the dining room where the maids were already setting the table.

They were halfway through Romeo's cereal when the footsteps came again.

Mateo entered the room, black shirt, tailored pants, hair slightly tousled from sleep casual, but still every inch in control.

"Sunshine," he greeted with a crooked smile as he slid into his seat.

Lia didn't argue this time.

She was too tired.

"Good morning, sir," she replied simply.

Mateo studied her for a moment. His brow lifted slightly.

"What is this? Did you sleep at all?"

His voice held something new concern, beneath the teasing.

"You let those eye bags ruin your beautiful face," he added, almost gently.

Lia just forced a smile and continued feeding Romeo his cereal.

Then, without warning, Mateo leaned back in his chair.

"I was thinking," he said slowly, "it'd be nice... and more convenient, if you moved in."

Lia froze slightly, spoon hovering near Romeo's mouth.

"Don't worry, I can increase your salary if that's what you want," he added smoothly. "Romeo struggles with nightmares and midnight panic sometimes. I realized... you handle him well. You could help with that."

Lia blinked, unsure what to say.

It would help God, it would help. No rent. A raise. She could maybe save faster. Maybe get closer to the $25,000 she needed.

But moving in meant less time at the hospital. Less time with her mom.

Mateo must have noticed the hesitation in her eyes.

"You can think about it," he said, not unkindly.

Lia nodded quietly and turned her attention back to Romeo, gently wiping a bit of milk off his cheek.

Later that afternoon, after Romeo finished his online class, they sat together on the floor of his room, feeding Peanut tiny slices of fruit and vegetables.

Romeo carefully held out a thin slice of carrot.

Peanut snatched it from his fingers with surprising speed, making both of them laugh.

"She eats so fast," Romeo said, already reaching for another slice.

"Don't rush your food, Peanut," he scolded playfully, watching the hamster chew.

Then he looked up at Lia.

"It's not nice to rush food, right, Lia?"

She nodded, smiling.

"Right. It's always better to take your time."

Romeo turned back to Peanut.

"I don't rush my food, do I?"

"You eat so well," Lia said, pinching his cheeks lightly.

"Like the good boy you are."

He giggled, leaning into her hand for a second before looking down again.

Then, after a beat, his voice softened.

"Are you gonna stay here?"

Lia paused.

She looked at him his little hands feeding Peanut, his lashes long over his cheeks, his whole body so small, but his words so full of meaning.

She didn't know what to say.

She didn't want to be far from her mother. But she also knew this job living here could help her save faster. Maybe even buy time. The very thing she was running out of.

Romeo looked up at her again, his voice almost a whisper.

"I want you to stay here with me, Lia. I'm always scared at night. And I don't want to be scared no more."

Lia reached out and gently roughened his hair, her throat tight.

"I'll think about it, buddy."

He smiled, satisfied with her answer.

She handed him a thin slice of apple, and he placed it in Peanut's cage. They both watched the hamster grab it and start nibbling quickly again.

"She's still rushing," Romeo muttered with a smile.

Lia laughed softly, but her heart ached quietly.

---

Later that night, after Romeo was tucked beneath his blankets and Peanut had crawled into her tiny corner to sleep, Lia stepped out into the hallway.

She hesitated for a second, then walked toward Mateo's study.

Her heart beat a little faster with every step.

She paused at the door and knocked.

"Come in," came his voice, smooth and low.

She pushed the door open and stepped in quietly.

"Sunshine," he said, barely looking up from his desk, but the corner of his mouth lifted just slightly.

Lia stood in front of his desk, her hands clasped together nervously.

"I... I finally gave it some thought," she said softly.

Mateo stood up slowly, his movements calm and deliberate as he walked toward her.

"I'll stay," she said.

He nodded once, steady and unreadable.

She hesitated, then added quickly, "But I need to say this...my mom... she's sick. She's in the hospital. I...um I need to know if I can still visit her?"

Mateo looked at her, his expression softer now.

"Of course, Sunshine. This isn't a prison. You can visit your mom whenever you want."

Lia let out a quiet breath, her shoulders relaxing.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Then she reached into her tote bag and pulled out the book she had borrowed from his shelf.

"I'd like to return this."

He watched her silently as she walked to the shelf, gently slid the book back into place, then scanned the titles and picked another one, her fingers tracing the spine.

"You really love to read, huh?" he asked.

She turned, smiling a little. "I do. It helps me... escape."

Mateo didn't say anything right away, just watched her like he was trying to figure out what kind of story she came from.

She looked down at the book in her hands, then back at him.

"I should go. It's late," she said.

Just as she turned to leave, he stepped closer.

His hand came up gently, fingers brushing under her chin, tilting her face up toward him.

She froze.

His eyes locked with hers warm, unreadable, intense.

"Make sure you get some good rest tonight, Sunshine," he said softly.

"I don't want you walking around here looking white and black again tomorrow."

He dropped his hand, slow and gentle.

Lia nodded quickly, her voice caught somewhere in her throat.

"Goodnight," she managed.

Then she turned and left, the sound of the door clicking softly behind her as she disappeared down the hall book pressed to her chest, heart pounding too loud to ignore.